Method of stitching



T. E. MONROE METHOD oF STITCHING 5 sheets-sheet 1 Original Filed March 8. 1940 Feb. 14, 1950 METHOD OF STITCHING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March 8, 1940 3/ l 'j f.n "Ik I l. 2 J ff fd? a 79 5732 l f L JJ' y /r f ,n W0

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1 lzdefzzaf Feb. 14, 1950 T. E. MONROE METHOD oF STITCHING 3 Sheets-Sheell 3 Original Filed March '8, 1940 10.322,867,niedinercnaiefio. Y

Patented Feb. 14.195 2,497,232

2,497,232 MrHOe 0F einem@ Thomas E. Monroe,.New York, N.Y., assigner .of E v`one-half `tao-William R. gponalgsonrNorthport. 1 N. Y., andorrefourth to William R. Donaldson, as trustee William` R. Donaldson administrator nof "said" 'lhoinas lvlonljbfccasd" t Continuation of application Serial No. 322,867, March8, 1940r1e-This application--0ctober:20, 11944, .Serial No.A 5.5.9,580-#1 f- (C1. (i12-rg) This invention. relates. ...to eiitliieg @liebes k.ele-f1e the lines .2f-,2 9'f`11is11re 1 and Shows. an 4more particular reterencefto awrnetliodofstitlition of t'l'e drive mechanism; ing. YThe meanssslelvsed herein @exemplify A further olojectofthev invention istofyaryhhe svtitehes, as seen `)from thejopcr obversefs-i'deflif length of loops at the obverse -sideof the-,fabric .the fabric, formed ylcpythe. niacliifintheqprcin regularly recurring order to produce ajnoyel `4`ticeefihe novelniethodjand an improved stitch locking eiectr" f :3:0 yIiilgure 16is` 'a'sid-e vView of the Stitch o.f. Figure Another object of the yinvention is so to shorten fr1.5; ythe layers of fabric l:li'ig'4indieated "ldt certain of the IOOD'SO Such4v stltCheSr-.thatygthe `jtrld dasl'ilin" 'A' f. L ".l points of concatenationr'iwiththeAh respectively 1Migure 1,7is arview similar `to Figureul but succeeding loops are disposed; in positionsbetween shows'another form of stitcliinade i'tligpzfactice l'succeeding bights" of fthe' 'shortened and 'respec- 0f the n0 Ve1 ijnethod; and

` vFigure 18 1s -a 1 n View of anportion ofl the tively succeedingloopsinfthe fabric,r l .K u .I i Y u n The inventior'ihas'as afurther object .the pro- -J fabrictetue vl`and showspa-rticularly-kthelapertures duction of a double loopfstitch" in'whch -theloops for -aegonlhrklflodating the-needle *andxifeeding ford-, i "are taken alternately from two `threads and Memodpfsz-thmg* "wherein the alternate `loops arefofvv dilferent .U .f t l, -lengths f y .t 1- .Inpracticingr the method :oftheinyentiom Yet another object of the invention is Ito M arrange material tovbestjtch'ed or sew'ed between fa Vsuitable'needle at lthe"fobyerse` aside. and bluality'ofthreadsat the reverse sideofgthe 4n'iaterial'. fThe needle is1 0f'. e

complish any 'and-all yoftheforegoing objects withasingle neel'lle.` if I Other objectsf'of the invention will become ap yparent in the fo110wingfdseript1on-whicireoilsidered in connection with 'the"'a.c"copaifirg "drawing'illustrates'i a referred'we locdiin nt Ythe invention.l 1" f'f* f1 i In the drawing:

Figure 1 is 'a view in side elev living .themethd "I-.Flgure 2 "e loop of thread at the obverse side of the mate-- rial to form along the obverse side of the material a line or series of interlocked loops of thread and along the reverse side of the material a line or series of substantially parallel, straight courses or lengths of thread.

By providing threads of different size, material,

color, or combinations of such Variations in physical characteristics of threads and selecting the thread of the desired characteristics each time a loop is to be formed, I, as shown in Figures and 16, form a line of stitches of interlocked loops, along the obverse side of the material, of

Vthe variousthreadswith the desired color, size,

material, other physical characteristic, or combinations thereof, recurring in a desired sequence. Such stitches, particularly when of proper length relative to the thickness of the material being sewed, resist raveling and will firmly hold plies of fabric together. They are thus of suiiicient strength and, by their formation of threads of `selected characteristics as just described, are also decorative and ornamental.

N'Ihe locking effect is enhanced and further variations in ornamentation are provided by shortening the loops of thread at regularly recurring intervals or in regularly recurring order. For example, in a two-thread stitch, I subject one of the threads to a greater tension thanthe other, When that is done, the loops of the thread under greater tension will pull the points of concatenation with the loops of the other thread to positions between the points of needle penetration through the material being sewed, or between the bights of the loops of both threads as they are passedA through the material by the needle, as illustratedin Figure 17. Various means may be employed for performing or practicing the novel method hereinbefore described. n While I do not Wish to be limited to any particular means, I prefer and have illustrated in the accompanying drawings the matip of the needle for receiving or engaging thread therein and releasing or disengaging it when open and for holding the engaged thread while passing it through the fabric. Threads from a plurality of spools K and L are selectively supplied to the needle by a shuttle M having a cam surface N, and a shoe O supported by a spring P.

Illustrative of the novel method as performed by means of the machine just generally described to exemplify suitable means for carrying out the invention, reference is made to Figures 10 to 14 inclusive. As therein illustrated the method of stitch formation involves the production of interlocked loops from a plurality of threads lc and Z taken from the spools K and L, in the following manner: The machine being threaded and each thread passed through one of a plurality or" small chine forming the subject matter of the above identified application 'Serial Number 559,579 which I have found suitable to perform and which will serve to exemplify means for performing or practicing the novel method of the present invention. Y Y

`Such a machine, as shown more particularly in Figures l' and 3, first described generally, comprises a substantially U-shaped or other suitable frame A, a needle operating head B attached to one arm of the U-shaped frame A, a threadhandling head C similarly attached to the other arm of the U-shaped frame A, a table D forming the top of the thread-handling head C, a presser foot E, and a feeding foot F adapted to cooperate with an inclined extension G of the table D to advance therealong a material or fabric arranged between the presser foot E and the table D, and a suitable needle mechanism adapted to engage a thread, pass it through the fabric, and thereafter disengage or release the thread.

In the illustrated machine, the needle mechanism comprises a reciprocable hooked or barbed needle I-I, a plunger I carrying the needle I-I attached thereto', and a pin J reciprocable within the needle H to form with the barbed or hooked end thereof an openable and closable eye in the holes, o, o in shoe O, as shown in Figure 10, the descending presser foot in advancing the fabric pusheswthe shoe O against the cam surface N into the position of Figurellso' that the descending needle I-I enters the shoe -to the right of the thread 7c as shown in Figure 11, the motion of the pin J being retardedso that the eye in the needle H is open. At this stage, the pressure of the feeding foot F against the shoe is relaxed so that the shoe returns to the position of Figure 10, as

shown in Figure 12, forming a loop in the thread k within the eye of the needle. The needle upon being drawn upwards through the fabric carries the loop with it.

On the next downstroke of the needle, the eye of the needle is opened by operation of the pin J to disengage the thread above the fabric and the needleV passes through the previously formed loop and the sequence of events is repeated. The tension in the thread 1c produced by the needle pulling on the loop, however, moves the shuttle M across so that the shoe 0,'on being moved toward the shuttle by the feeding foot F, now encountersthe opposite side of the cam surface N, pushing the shoe into the position of Figure 13, so that the needle' enters the same to the left of the thread l as shown in that figure. Upon Arelaxing of the pressure of the feeding foot F'against the shoe, the shoe returns to the position of Figure'14`with a loop from the thread Z caught by the needle. The upstroke of the needle thus draws a loop'from the thread l (instead cf the thread 1c) upward through the fabric and through the loop previously formed from the thread lc. Repetition of this operation results in the formation fof the stitch shown schematically in Figuresl and 16 in which each thread, lc and Z, successively passes through the fabric so that the loops' on the top or obverse side ofthe fabric, as shown in Figure 15, present the appearance of a simple chain stitch but with the loops of the chain coming from the spools in'a regularly recurring' order. On the reverse side the stitch presents the appearance, as-shown in Figure 1,'of parallel straight courses of thread, ofV a lengthv equal to the combined length of the number of stitches intervening between two orderly successive stitches of the two threads. By using threads ofdifferent physical characteristics, for example, different colors, as indicated in Figure 15, the loops are formed along the obverse side of the fabric with desired physical thread characteristics recurring in an orderly or desired sequence, thus producingV a stitch of decorative character, f

As will be seen, the-stitch of the invention possesses locking characteristics not to be found in ordinary chain stitches. In an ordinary open theretoadpassingeccentrioally through lar 'gear wlieel I6 loosely within are'ce'ss formed in thawheelfl 5' and between `the'wvlieel and a face plate I 9 vamxed thereto. As vbest shownin* Fighaving y"radial faces 219' and ca-m faces 2I and'f"i-e ee'iving "balls'or discs 22, this-'arrangementenm stitutinga unidirectional clutch. be'un- Hand, ounter-clockwi'se' rotation of` 'then @gear fp f theffshaft I 0. ffAlxedf 'fto y'theil btherof'rftle shaft7 z23 anarm 24* having .ahbo'ssf-S adapted tol V'enter 'any' of 1avnumler 2of 'indentations 'llI iin face plate I9 and to remain therein by reason of the'ispringf or .24. By` -fm'e'ansl of this-.arrangement, vseatirlguf L.the arm 724 offte fx'farious=.a1:xgular.` positions-provided vfor 'varies the eieotiv'e 'Il'engthnfv the rnkifS-and'tlius' "varis l'thelen'gtldfof .stitch produced. Needle ope'rtiiz'g "'fzd'ao'fic'"feeding-mechanism The -needlefplunger I bears .the vneedle fastened-toit by meansof-wa-b-lock 21e-and afisorew v28 and has, fby reason-of the'erank arrangement :ijust described, Ia *simple l`v re'ciprocatory movement. .l t plunger also serves, -fthrough mechanism t'aouuir -toflbeIdescribed;fito limpart lthe reqin'ved`- zmofveioents#to` "the 'feeding foot VF-'faxid to the needleapintJ. The needlepinfJ terminates at its upper end in a 'If-head 29 within a cutout 30 in thepln'gerl andfeedingi'fo'ot F is carried bya' body-portion 3Iyvformed withan vangle 32 adapted for engagement by fthe lower end of the yplunger I and witha crosswise abutment. adapted xlio-seat under-fan abutmentlliormed on .the plunger .Iras-sh'xown inEigureS. "The body portion 3i includes `alsolja promet-011135 adapted to Alill-nit vits strokeand wings-1:36a passing laround. the plunger I and formed withA .can 1 nrisesujfl vadapted tto eng-agethe .Tenead- A29. The body portion-3 I ofthe-feeding vfoot F5 is pressedv against tbe-p jlunger=r I y.by Ymeans 'of-avspring t38 -fastened to-the=latterby sorews 39. l

` At the eommencementofthe'downstroke-offthe plunger' 1; the .feeding` vfoot F,-through the Aangle 32 f andfthefabutment l 33V, iis positively carried valong-'Awith itandHtheI-needlespin J ,L through-the "I'I-lsiead-I 29e-and' the rise- B'Iisf also carried with thee plunger. fBy Lreason-v off-the' v^ineline'ofA `rtable vdsengages -irom the lower-end ofthe Yplunger-f1.

At this-time-for shortly-thereafter, the T-heacl 29 `Vencounters'a rise 49 formed in'fthe 'casing .5, diseng'aiging ithe* abutments 33: and -34 #by `pressingtheieeding foot-body portionv 3 I Lback :against thefspring. f Continuing motionv of the plunger rbringszthe upperfend ofthe cutout 30v against thel Teheadv '329,-' carrying the same over the' rise IIB-intoaairecessfll, wherey it stops. l'At this-point, the low'er :end of the pnJ will be rslightly vbelow the'level'of 'the fabric. 'Meanwhile -the plunger L llcontiruing'tozmovefwillJ have "carried the lower end 42 of thesprtng` Say-.which:islslantedfras shownyjover '.th corresponding v'slant of `the Ibody portion .3Ifofwfeeding foot'F ju'stfabove the angle 32; and theilowerfiend 'of :the @plunger:engaging thel'curv yo'fA the i feeding" foot ,F'below the'l angle 32 willhave-Wedgedl'the .feedingrioot' to the le'ft out or pressing contactiwiththe fabric.

'position of Figure 3, at ipiiatfthabutnnt 7 A34 slips back 4under abutment 33- and the angle 32 slips back under the lower end of the plunger I under the influence of the spring 38, thus returning the parts to starting position for the next stitch.

To coordinate the stroke of the feeding foot F with the stroke of the plunger I for various lengths of stitch, the stop 45 is carried on a pin 46 within a vertical slot 41 in the casing 5 and is positionable by means of a thumb nut 48 at various heights thereon to. correspond with the various strokes of the plunger I produced by setting of the arm 24, as described above.

The fabric is conveniently held on the table D by the presser foot E urged downward by a weight 49 and slidably mounted on a track 50 attached to the head B by means of clips and guide pins 52, the presser foot being formed with an opening 53 to permit passage therethrough of the needle and feeding foot as described.

Thread handling mechanism The fabric supporting tables D and G, preand 55, respectively, under the needle and under the feeding foot (Figure 18), the former opening serving to permit passage of the needle and the latter to permit the feeding foot F to press against the fabric and therethrough against the shoe O within the head C.

- As best shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 8, the shoe O is carried on a spring P fastened by means of screw 56 to a frame member 51 imbedded in the casing body 58 of the head C and is formed 'with a grooved upper surface 11 extending downwardly at an incline somewhat less than that of the table G so that the fabric moving down the same under the feeding foot F urges the shoe O inwardly (to the right in Figure 3), the rounded end or nose of the shoe O accordingly engaging fthe cam N so that the shoe is wedged to one side into the position of Figure- 6 or "l, depending upon the position of the cam N. The cam N is controlled, through the shuttle M upon which it is carried, by the tension of the threads k and l passing through openings 59 and 60 at the ends of the shuttle M. The shuttle M slides back and forth on a frame 6I formed on or attached to the frame member 51 and having a cutout 62 limiting the movement of shuttle M by means of a pin 63 upon the latter. To lower friction, a wheel 54 may be mounted upon the pin 53 to furnish a riding surface for the nose of the shoe O after it has been pushed to one side or the other by the point of the cam N.

' With this arrangement, it will be understood that, starting in the position of Figure 5, for example, the shoe will engage the left side of the Acam N (looking toward the cam) so that the shoe will be deflected sidewise into the position of Figure 6, the needle picking up a loop from the thread k. When the shoe returns to the position of Figure 5,'the needle risesand draws the loop with it. the tension created upon the thread moves the shuttle M over vto the left (looking toward the shuttle) so that the cam N is positioned on the opposite side of the shoe O in preparation for the next operation. On the next downstroke of the feeding foot, the shoe O accordingly engages the opposite side of the cam N and is deflected into the position of Figure 7 so that the needle now picks up a loop from the thread l. By this means the stitch described above, and having loops formed alternately from two threads, is produced.

Thread tensioning arrangement The invention contemplates a very simple, but nevertheless effective method of thread tensioning. As best shown in Figures 3 and 5 to 8, the spools K and L are carried in generally cylindrical recesses formed in the body 58 of the head C and the threads k and Z passingupwardly over guide surfaces 65 are given the required slight tension by reason of their wrap around the same and the consequent friction produced. The spools are held within the recesses by means of a cover plate 66 attached to the body 5B by hinges 61 and having formed with it an upper portion 68 constituting part of the table D and depending portions 69 constituting the upper side walls of the thread housing. No spindles for the spools are required, these being held in approximately the proper longitudinal position by means of bosses 10 and 'H on the body 58 and cover 66 respectively.

As it may be desired under certain conditions to produce Ya single thread chain stitch, I have Vprovided means for immobilizing the shuttle M,

when desired, these taking the form of slides 12 lcarried by means of pins 73 and slots 14 on the depending portions 69 of the cover 66. Those slides, by means of buttons 15, respectively, attached to the pins 73, may be set in the position of Figure 5 so as not to interfere with the motion of the shuttle M or either slide 12 may be slid over so as to hold the shuttle in either of its extreme positions. As will be apparent, when the shuttle is so held the shoe O will always engage the same side of cam N and accordingly a stitch will be formed from a single one of the threads lc or l.

In making the stitches illustrated in Figure 1'?, certain of the loops are shortened relative to the length of the other loops. That is done in the novel method preferably but notnecessarily by applying different tensions to the threads. For example, in the illustrated machine the tension on either thread Z or 7c may be increased relative to the other of those threads by reversing the corresponding spool end for end. Thus as shown in Figure 8, the spool L may be reversed end for end so that it unwinds in the sameV direction as the spool K (counterclockwise as viewed in that figure of the drawing) the path of travel of the thread from the spool L so reversed being shown in broken lines at l. The sharper bend around the guide E5 results in greater tension being applied to the thread from the spool L so reversed than that applied to the thread from the spool K. Consequently the loop formed of the thread from the spool L, after the succeeding loop of the thread from the spool K is ypassed through the first mentioned loop, is then drawn back by the tension on the thread as the cloth is advanced and by the tension produced in forming the next succeeding loop of the thread from the spool L resulting in the stitch illustrated in Figure 17 wherein the loop of the thread Z is illustrated as having been shortened.

Operation In preparing to operate the machine, the frame A, provided with a felt or rubber surfaced base 16 for that purpose, is clamped to a chair arm or table edge or other convenient location and the motor (not shown) is plugged in. The spools K and L are placed in the thread holder and the respective threads are brought through the notches 59 and 60 and passed through the holes axiomes and'feeding :foot F' 'and 'th-'e machine is in. condition for operation.

Thelength ofistitch is selected by setting arm.

24to Va desired. position andthe stop 45, by means ofthe thumb nut 48, is set itoadjust the feeding foot motion correspondingly bymeans of suitable.`

indiciainot shown) ontheoutside of the casing.

endl-1 of"Y its stroke.'

theeneedleepim-J," being-held?A back.Y by rise 4|l= asdescribed,` opensfth'e feye of the needle I-I (this releasing anyloopfofftlfiread` uponthe needle).` Siiorftly`r` thereafter the-ffeeding foot,. which has been: moving-downwardiy 'and to theileft and' thus advancing the material under lthe needle, isk

freedfrom its=engagementwith `the lower end'of ther-plunger I iandl th'e- :abutment 134 so: that the fabric `is stationary at ftheA time the needle/point entersit The/needle; continuing fto move, enters thev fabric= 'and passes-@throughl' it and through the aperture-f54 iintoftheishoeo whohi by this time,

through theaetionofitheifeeding foot F'and thecanr'N, has 'beenA` positioned toone side as shown fri-'Figure :1l-. Continued i-notionv downward'of the needle plunger -Iresults in'I the feeding foot beingshoved' asma-permitting the shoe O to return to the position of Figure l2 and results further in the needle pinrJ; throughits head 29 and the upper.' vedgeaofs :thes-cutoutz; 30, vfollowinggthe needle through the fabric to a Apoint just above the shoe 0.,.

During the return stroke, the hookof the needle picksupethe loop of threadtnd the barb;4,4of the. .needle encounters the lower-.end of the needle pi'rk J,f:thusi-closing theieye: ofaith'e needle: about the; thread-. Further- 11pm/ard;L motion. o" the needldfliftsthe .needlepin J. suf:that the -Thead 29 passes out .ofqthefdepressionM over the rise 40 and returns to the position of Figure 3. The feeding-foot F, in the manner' described'labove, follows the needle.plungeralvertically upward to-thefpoint wheretheprojecti'onr-SE engagesthe stop` 451 andfthen stopsT .comingi-b'ack tovr engagement with the plunger I under the bottom of the plunger and the abutment 34 upon the plunger completing its upward stroke.

Where the stitch of Figure 17 is desired for increasing the locking effect or for providing additional decorative effects, either spool (L, as shown in Figure 8) may be reversed end for end so that it unwinds in the same direction as the other spool (counterclockwise in Figure 8) the path of travel in this event being shown in broken lines at Z. The resulting sharper bend around the guide 55 increases the tension on the spool L as compared with spool K. In consequence, the loop formed from the spool L having rst had the succeeding loop from the spool K formed through it is then drawn back by the tension on' the thread as the cloth is advanced and by the tension produced in forming the second succeeding loop resulting in the stitch as shown in Figure 17. In this way by subjecting one of the threads to a. greater tension than the other, loops of the thread under greater tension will pull the points The-wheel- |isrnow;` turned .by 4hand to. pickup. both threads :and the'A loops above the table1arepul'led.out'with aneee dlei orrother instrument'so asz'tozbringathe loose thread` ends abovethe'fabricitable D; G. The. fabric is now inserted under the presserzfoot iii orc."concatenation' with .the loops of the other` thread. toY points between: the points of needlepenetration` through the fabric or between the'` bights of the loops'of'both threads as they are drawn through. the-fabric by the needle.

It is thought that the invention andits attendf ant advantages will be understood from the fore-- going description, and itwill bev apparent that various-'changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts'of the means for practicing the method of the invention, and-in the particularly described steps thereof without departing from the Vspirit and scope of thef invention'or sacrificing all ofits material advantages, the means disclosed being merely= illustrative of suitable means for carrying outv the novel method..

Having: thus disclosed Vthefinvention, what1I- desire-tovsecure-- by way of United States'Letters Patent is:

1. TheA methodfofstitchingr which comprises" reciprocatingv a hooked needle through a-fabric -A from .theobversetoV the reverse side, advancing? thev said fabric ini'substantially'` equal stepsbe tween reciprocationsof said needle, positioning two Ithreads on the reverse sider ofvfsaid fabricA for alternate loop-forming engagementy in the-f' hook of theA said' needle; andI subjecting said threads: to different tensions, lwhereby theloopsof the thread: under greater tensionv are shortened and' those under lesser tension Aare corresponde inglyr elongated torespective lengthsfless and greaterthan that of the fabric advancing steps;

2. The. -method` of stitching' which' comprisesv reciprocating a" hoolredr needle:` throughl a fabric from-theobversezto the reverse side thereof; ad-V vancing 'the saidK fabric between-reciprocationsrof saidfneedle,r` positioning two lthreads on the reverse side of said fabric for alternate loopfform.- ing engagement :instherhook: ofrsaid needle,l and subjecting onefof: the 'threads to a Agreater tension: thani the other,: whereby the vloops 'off `the thread'A under'grea-terxtension will pull the/points of con. catenation. with-.the loopsl of the other.v thread' to points ibetwe'enA the bights `ofi the loops of both: threads-es drawn-through thefabric by' the needle.-

3'.' A method Y of stitching which comprises' piercing-'a fabric at spaced points, engaging at. one sideofrsaidffabrican intermediate portion ofeachfof af-plurality of threads in'regularly recurring forder, passingleaohA thread upon en-1 gagementthereof through said fabric at.A one. ofsaid points to form a loop of thread at the opposite side of said fabric after each piercing thereof and through the previously formed loop of thread at said opposite side of said fabric, disengaging the thread of each such loop before next engaging any of said threads, and shortening the loops of one of said threads after each of the respectively succeeding loops is passed therethrough whereby the shortened loops of thread recur in an orderly sequence.

4. A method of stitching which comprises piercing a fabric at spaced points, engaging at one side of said fabric an intermediate portion of each of a plurality of threads in regularly recurring order, passing each thread upon engagement thereof through said fabric at one of said points to form a loop of thread at the opposite side of said fabric after each piercing thereof and through the previously formed loop of thread at said opposite side of said fabric, disengaging the thread of each such loop before next engaging any of said threads, and shortening the loops of one of said threads after each of the respectively succeeding loops is passed therethrough whereby the shortened loops of thread recur in an orderly sequence, and dispose the points of concatenation with the respectively succeeding loops in positions between said spaced points.

5. A method of stitching which comprises arranging fabric to be sewed between a needle and a plurality of threads of different physical characteristics, reciprocating the needle at spaced points along the fabric from the needle side, through to the thread side, and back through to the needle side of the fabric, threading the needle at the thread side of the fabric during each reciprocation of the needle with any selected one of said threads whereby to draw a loop of thread through the fabric and a previously formed loop of thread at the needle side of the fabric and to form at the needle side of the fabric interengaging loops of threads having the physical characteristics determined by the sequence in which the needle is threaded with said threads of different physical characteristics and sequentially shortening some of the thread loops after each of the respectively succeeding loops is passed therethrough.

6. A method of stitching which comprises successively passing at equi-spaced points along fabric being sewed loops of different threads :from the reverse side, through, and beyond the obverse side of the fabric and passing each succeeding loop of thread through the next preceding loop of thread while sequentially utilizing each of said different threads in said loops, varying in a regularly recurring order the length of the thread loops, and disposing the interengaged loops of threads along thev surface at the obverse side of the fabric.

'7. A method of stitching which comprises reciprocating a single needle at spaced points along fabric being sewed through the fabric from the obverse, to the reverse, and back to the obverse side thereof, threading the needle at the reverse side of the fabric and unthreading the needle at the obverse side of the fabric during each reciprocation of the needle with any selected one of a plurality of different colored threads whereby to draw a loop of thread through the fabric and each succeeding loop of thread through a preceding loop of thread at the obverse side of the fabric, sequentially varying the length of the loops by shortening certain of them after each 12 loop to be shortened is drawn through the fabric, and disposing the interengaged loops of different colored threads along the surface at the obverseV side of the fabric in a color sequence determined by the order of selection utilized in threading the needle.

8. A method of stitching which comprises passing a loop of a thread at one side of a fabric after the passage therethrough of the rst saidA loop while holding said second loop to arrange it along the fabric, and repeating the foregoing steps While applying sufficient tension to said different thread to decrease the length of each said second loop along the fabric to less than the distance of the fabric movement.

9. A method of stitching which comprises successively passing loops of thread of equal predetermined length from different threads at one side of the fabric therethrough and after the rst loop through the respectively next preceding loops at the other side of said fabric, moving said fabric in steps of equal length after each loop is passed therethrough while holding said loop to dispose it along the fabric, and shortening the length of certain of the loops to less than the length of the steps of fabric movement while the respective succeeding loops are being passed therethrough whereby correspondingly to elongate said respectively succeeding loops.

THOMAS E. MONROE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 29,268 Hicks July 24, 1860 1,332,511 Moffat et al Mar. 2, 1920 1,699,423 Brase Jan. 15, 1929 2,152,203 Monroe Mar. 28, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 188 Great Britain Jan. 5, 1891 427,803 France Aug. 14, 1911 488,846 Germany Jan. 10, 1930 

